Video Surveillance System and Method for Self-Configuring Network

• US 20130188792A1
• Filed: 03/13/2013
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Smartvue Corp. (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Renkis, Martin A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,750,513 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/270
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19615 wherein said pattern is defined by the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19619 Details of casing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19621 Portable camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1966 Wireless systems, other than telephone systems, used to communicate with a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A mesh network surveillance system and method for providing communication between a base system having at least one input capture device ICD(s) and other ICD(s), wherein the ICD(s) are operable to provide a self-configuring network with each other, including the steps of providing this base system; at least one user accessing the ICDs and inputs remotely via a user interface through a remote server computer and/or electronic device communicating with it, for providing a secure surveillance system with extended inputs range and self-configured networking for smart cross-communication for monitoring a target environment.

Claims

1. A method for providing networked communication in a surveillance system, comprising the steps of:

providing a base surveillance system comprising;

at least one input capture device (ICD);

at least one digital input recorder (DIR) or another at least one ICD;

a wired network connecting the ICD(s) or the ICD(s) and DIR(s) and wherein communication occurs;

the ICD(s) automatically establishing and self-configuring the network;

the DIR(s) or ICD(s) recording input;

the ICD(s) analyzing and generating input data based upon rules;

the ICD(s) communicating over the network with the DIR(s) or the other ICD(s) for data exchange, data management, and settings management;

the ICD(s) deciding if an event rule has been triggered and if specific data is to be sent to the DIR(s) or the RSC(s) or other ICD(s); and

providing user access to the input via at least one remote server computer (RSC).

2. The method of claim 1 further including the step of the ICD(s) managing data transmission based on rules to ensure the most important data is successfully transmitted.

3. A method for providing a secure, remote access surveillance system comprising the steps of:

providing the base system comprising;

at least two input capture devices (ICDs);

at least one remote server computer (RSC);

a wired network connecting the ICDs and wherein communication occurs;

the ICDs automatically establishing and self-configuring the network;

the ICDs automatically analyzing input and generating input data based on rules;

the ICDs communicating with each other and the RSC(s);

the ICDs locking themselves for exclusive communication with each other, wherein the locking comprises digital signing or encrypting the transmission; and

the ICDs communicating specific input data to each other or the RSC based on rules;

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of providing at least one digital input recorder (DIR) in communication with the ICDs.

5. The method of claim 3 further including the step of the ICDs transmitting inputs from one ICD to other ICDs to provide an extended range of a surveillance area.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the user is capable of accessing the ICDs via a user interface either directly or remotely through the RSC.

7. The method of claim 3 further including the step of the ICDs managing data transmission based on rules to ensure the most important data is successfully transmitted.

8. A secure surveillance system of a target environment comprising:

at least two input capture devices (ICDs);

a remote server computer (RSC);

a wired network connecting the ICDs and wherein communication occurs;

the ICDs comprised of components including at least one sensor, an input detector, an input recorder, a microprocessor, a memory, a transmitter, a receiver;

the components of each ICD constructed and configured in electronic connection within a singular housing;

the ICDs configured to exclusively lock data transmission with specific ICDs, wherein locking comprises digital signing or encrypting the transmission;

the ICDs configured to automatically analyze input and generate input data based upon rules stored in the memory;

the ICDs configured to directly communicate with each other, wherein the communication includes input exchange, input data exchange, cross-control, and settings exchange; and

the ICDs configured to transmit specific input to the RSC or the other ICDs based on the rules.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the ICDs are further configured to transmit inputs from one ICD to other ICDs to provide an extended range of a surveillance area.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the ICDs are further configured to compare inputs to reference data for labeling a sensed object for further identification by the system.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the RSC is configured to permit a user to select ICDs that are included in the self-configuring network of ICDs.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the ICDs are further configured to manage data transmission based on rules to ensure the most important data is successfully transmitted.

13. The system of claim 8 further including status indicator lights on the housing of at least one ICD.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one ICD is further configured to receive and analyze RFID signals based on the rules.

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the RSC comprises a graphic interface configured to permit a user to manage the input data.

16. The system of claim 8 further comprising at least one digital input recorder (DIR) in communication with at least one ICD.

17. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one ICD further includes an infrared sensor and transmitter or a laser sensor and transmitter within the housing.

18. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one ICD further includes an infrared light source.

19. The system of claim 8 wherein the input, the input data, and other information are combinable or compressible or both into individual data streams.

20. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one ICD is capable of automatically updating its own software.